Automatic margin and paper margin equalizer



April 21; 1959 v. J. PHILLIPS 2,883,028

AUTOMATIC MARGIN AND PAPER MARGIN EQUALIZER Filed July 11, 1956 Fig.3.

INVENTOR.

Va/enfine Jpfii/fips amyrm 9 60 ATTDRN EYS United States Patent AUTOMATIC MARGIN AND PAPER MARGIN EQUALIZER Valentine J. Phillips, Johnstown, Pa.

Application July 11, 1956, Serial No. 597,234

1 Claim. (Cl. 197-63) This invention relates to a writing machine, and more particularly to a typewriter.

This invention is an improvement over the writing machine illustrated in my prior Patent No. 2,260,232, dated October 21, 1941.

The object of the invention is to provide a writing machine which includes a margin control which is constructed so that the right hand block can 'be released without releasing the left hand block.

Another object of the invention is to provide a margin control for a typewriter which is constructed so that the right hand block can be released without releasing the left hand block, the left hand block being arrested or stopped at all times whereby it is possible to utilize only one block at a time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a margin control for a writing machine which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view illustrating the marginal control on the frame of a conventional typewriter and constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the right block of the marginal control.

Referring in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that there has been illustrated a construction which is somewhat similar to the construction shown in my prior patcut, with certain notable exceptions which will be described later on. However, for purposes of clarity, it has been deemed advisable to repeat certain portions of the disclosure of my prior patent so as to more succinctly explain the operation of the present invention. Thus, the numeral indicates the carriage of the typewriter which has upright extensions 11 and 12. Bracket members 13 and 14 are arranged on the inner side of the upright extensions, and an elongated flat main bar 15 has its ends secured to the brackets as at 16 and 17. The bar 15 is provided with a scale 18 which corresponds in length to the maximum stroke line capacity of the typewriter. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the scale may be marked off into ten main divisions which are each marked off into ten sub-divisions which each correspond to a typed impression stroke of the machine, the middle line being designated by the character 0.

Arranged above the right hand portion of the main bar 15 is a supplemental bar 19 which has a scale 20 thereon. The scale 20 is mounted on extensions 21 and 24, there being securing elements 22, 23, and 25 for connecting these members in their proper place.

As previously described, the scale 20 is marked ofi into main spaces which correspond to one-half of the 2,883,028 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 main spaces of the scale 18 or equal to five of the sub-' divisions of the scale 18, and the main spaces of the scale 20 are further proportionately subdivided to correspond to the sub-divisions of the main scale 18.

There is further provided a shaft 26 which is arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to the bar 15, and one end of the shaft 26 is journaled in the extension 11 as at 27. The other end of the shaft 26 is journaled in the extension 12 as at 28, and the shaft 26 has right hand screw threads on one-half thereof as at 29, and these threads 29 extend from the middle of the shaft to a thrust collar 30. The other half of the shaft has left hand threads 31 which extend from the middle of the shaft to a point near a collar 32. A pinion 33 is arranged on the shaft 26 adjacent the collar 32, and the pinion 33 meshes with a gear 34 which is secured to the inner end of a spindle 35, there being a knob 36 for rotating the spindle 35.

Arranged on the threaded portion 29 of the shaft 26 is a first block 37 which carries a pointer 38 that is adapted to coact with the scale 18 on the bar 15 to the left of the middle of the scale. There is further provided a second block 39 which is arranged on the threaded portion 31 of the shaft, and the block 39 carries a double pointer 40. As shown in the drawings, the block 39 is smaller or of less length than the block 37. One portion 41 of the pointer 40 cooperates with the portion of the scale 18 to the right of the zero line, while another portion 42 of the pointer coacts with the scale 20 on the supplemental bar 19.

The blocks 37 and 39 have threaded bores which engage the portions 29 and 31 of the shaft 26 so that when the shaft 26 is rotated, the blocks are moved along the shaft. Gears 33 and 34 are provided for rotating the shaft 26 and the spindle 35 is rotated by means of the knob 36. For preventing the blocks 37 and 39 from rotating, there is provided in each block a groove'43 which slidably engages a guide rod 44 that is arranged parallel to the shaft 26. The blocks 37 and 39 define stops for controlling the marginal spaces at the ends of the typed line on the paper at opposite sides of the sheets. The numeral 45 designates the usual stop finger or member which operates between the blocks 37 and 39. In the instant case where the present invention is mounted on the carriage, the finger 45 or its equivalent may be mounted on the frame of the machine.

As previously described, the block 37 is longer than the block 39 and this construction is not shown in my prior patent and is important since it permits the right hand block 39 to be released without releasing the left hand block 37 since the left hand block is arrested at all times.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a margin control mechanism which is an improvement over the margin control shown in my prior Patent No. 2,260,232. With the present invention, the right hand block 39 can be released without releasing the left hand block 37 since the left hand block 37 is arrested at all times. This is brought about by making the block 39 shorter or smaller than the block 37. Thus, in the present invention, the left hand block 37 is operated independently from the margin control and this is very important since there are many times when one block is required and this is usually the left hand block 37 since typing is always done from left to right. Very rarely is the right hand block used alone.

Where one block typing is desired, the typing can start at the extreme left part of the sheet and it can start anywhere from this point to approximately the middle of the sheet so that typing can be accomplished to the extreme right of the paper without any interference with the right hand block since this block is nullified. While the present invention is quite simple, nevertheless it does permit the use of one block independently and also\ broadens the range of the margin control.

In my earlier patent, when the release lever was up, the. member 45 or its equivalent element arrested both blocks and when the release lever was down, both blocks were. out of commission. However, in the present invention, the block 39, is approximately a quarter of an inch shorter than the block 37 so that when the release member: 45 is down, since the block 37 is longer than the block 39, the, block 37 would still be arrested. However, the block 39, would be able to move over towards the member 45 and bypass the member 45 or the stoppage finger so that. the block 39 would be put out of commission. to permit the block 37, which is the left hand block, to work independently from the margin control. This is, illustrated. by the solid and dotted line position of the member 45 in the present drawings. When the; member 45 is up, then the margin control is in effect and it; is. to be understood. that the member 45 may be at tached to a release key. It is to be understood that different types of machines have different releases and the releases would have to conform with the blocks. Thus, it will be seen that, in the present invention special margin blocks. have been provided and the inventive concept is adapted to be used. either on the frame of the machine or on the carriag As, previously described, the main purpose of the present invention is to release the right hand block 39 without releasing the left hand, block 37 since the left, hand block is arrested at all times. Thus, with the present invention, there is provided simultaneous margin control and also independent control of the block 37. The mechanism may be arranged on the carriage or else it may be on the. Ifll Qt Whenindependent control is desired, typing can start at; the extreme left part of the sheet, and thistyping- Cfilt continue to the extreme right portion of the paper without any interference from the right block 39 since his. block is out of commission. When the stoppage finger 45 locks both, blocks, simultaneous margin control isineflect, When the stoppage finger 45tis pressed down, it, still lock, the left block 37 when the carriage is moved to the right. However, when the carriage is: moved to the left in view of the fact that the block 39 isapproximately a quarter of an inch smaller in length thanthe block 37, then the member 45 will clear the block 39 4. b so as to nullify this block whereby the block 37 will be able to operate independently-of the bloc-1:39.

It is important that the bottom portion of the release finger or its equivalent, be in alignment with the bottom of the block 39 when in normal position so that when the release finger 45 is pressed down a quarter of an inch, there will be sufiioient clearance between the block 39 and finger 45 as shown in the drawings. The member 45 has the usual line lock catch and bell catch so that when the member 45? is pressed down, the line catch and bell catch will also be lowered so as to provide sutficient clearance. A suitable mechanism can be provided for-latching the member 45 when it is pressed down so as to keep the member 45 in its downward position as when one block is desired or when independent control is to be used. When the release member 45 is up, the simultaneous control is in efiect. In Figure l, the dotted line position of the member 45 shows the member 45 in its downward position which will still arrest the block 37 but which will permit the block 39 to pass thereover. The

member 45' isadapted to be attached to the usual margin release key. In Figure 3, the dotted line position of the finger 45 shows the finger in locked or normal position, while the broken line position of the finger 45 illustrates the lowered position of the finger which permits the block 39 to pass thereover.

I claim: In atypewriter having aframe member and a carriage member, a shaft having right and left handed threadedportions mounted one one of said members, first and lacthed in its down position, whereby when the finger is thus latched in down position, the first blockcannot clear the finger but the second block can clearthe finger due to the shorter length of the second block.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 975,099 Yaw Nov. 8, 1910-: 2,260,232 Phillips Oct. 21,1941 2,397,578. Turquand Apr. 2, 1946 -m in... 

